Cardiopulmonary arrest following an infusion of calcium 2-amino ethanol phosphate

Filler Materials Used in Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease and the most common cause of fractures in older adults. Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is the most common complication in patients with osteoporosis. At present, vertebroplasty (VP) and kyphoplasty (KP) are two minimally invasive techniques used to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. In clinical use, KP and VP have stable and reliable therapeutic effects. However, there are still some complications and issues surrounding KP and VP application, and for long-term clinical follow-up. Thus, it is important to continue to improve the technology of the filler materials used in KP and VP in order to evolve the biomechanical characteristics of the postoperative vertebra, and to reduce the incidence of complications. The filler materials used for both techniques require good biocompatibility, good biomechanical strength and stiffness, and good radiopacity for the fluoroscopy guided procedures. PMMA and new filler materials (calcium phosphate cement, calcium sulfate cement, composite materials) are now available for clinical use. In this review paper, we will focus on the issues and characteristics of these filler materials.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: filler materials

Over 700,000 osteoporotic compression fractures occur each year in the United States, twice the number of hip fractures. These vertebral fractures, most of which occur in the elderly, represent significant personal and societal burdens. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a minimally invasive method that involves the percutaneous injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) into a collapsed vertebral body to stabilize the vertebra. Kyphoplasty is an advanced minimally invasive technique with a number of potential advantages over PVP, including lower risk of cement extravasation and better restoration of vertebral body height and spinal biomechanics. The filling materials used for both these techniques require good biocompatibility, good biomechanical strength and stiffness, and good radiopacity for the fluoroscopy guided procedures. New filler materials (synthetic bone substitutes, e.g., composite resin materials, calcium phosphate or calcium sulfate cements) in addition to new PMMA formulations are now available for clinical use. In this review paper, we will focus on the issues and characteristics of these filler materials as they pertain to vertebral augmentation procedures.